The Gruffalo: Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler: 9781509804757: Amazon.com: Books Julia Donaldson Page 1 of 1 Start over Sponsored Products are advertisements for products sold by merchants on Amazon.com. When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it. To learn more about Amazon Sponsored Products, click here . The Knight the Moon and the Stars Got Stuck (Knight the Moon & the Stars Got Stuck) Nancy L. Mills The Knight the Moon and the Stars Got Stuck is a strikingly original work of children's literature that stands with many of our best-loved classics! The Star Bright Factory Nancy Libbey Mills The Star Bright Factory is a perfect bedtime story for the longer nights of the year. You don't want to miss this title for the holidays! Diary of Steve the Noob 1 (An Unofficial Minecraft Book) (Minecraft Diary Steve the Noob Collection) Steve the Noob Steve wakes up in a strange, strange land. Follow him on an exciting and hilarious adventure as he explores this new world.

The Moribund Mouse (Animalosophy Book 2) Eric Kesselman A story about a mouse that makes radical changes in his life after confusing the mortal condition with unexpected bad news. Ad feedback Special Offers and Product Promotions Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly The eponymous character introduced by this British team owes a large debt to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. When Mouse meets Fox in the "deep dark wood," he invents a story about the gruffalo, described very much like Sendak's fearsome quartet of wild thingsA"He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." The gullible fox runs away when Mouse tells him that the gruffalo's favorite food is roasted fox. "Silly old Fox!" says Mouse, "Doesn't he know?/ There's no such thing as a gruffalo!" Owl and Snake follow suit until, with a turn of the page, Mouse runs into the creature he has imagined.

Quick-thinking Mouse then tells the monster, "I'm the scariest creature in this deep dark wood./ Just walk behind me and soon you'll see,/ Everyone for miles is afraid of me." Fox, Owl and Snake appear to be terrified of the tiny mouse, but readers can plainly see the real object of their fears. By story's end, the gruffalo flees, and Mouse enjoys his nut lunch in peace. Despite the derivative plot line, debut author Donaldson manipulates the repetitive language and rhymes to good advantage, supplying her story with plenty of scary-but-not-too-scary moments. Scheffler's gruffalo may seem a goofy hybrid of Max's wild things, but his cartoonlike illustrations build suspense via spot-art previews of the monster's orange eyes, black tongue and purple prickles until the monster's appearance in full. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition. The Gruffalo, Book by Julia Donaldson (Paperback) | chapters.indigo.ca Please call ahead to confirm inventory.

Praise For This Book Details & Specs From Our Editors Hand picked by our Panel of Experts the IndigoKids Recommends program offers book suggestions designed to help you find the perfect book easily and confidently. From the Publisher The nation's favourite bedtime story!"A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good."Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake and a hungry gruffalo . . .Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The ... Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved picture books, and was the 2011-2013 UK Children's Laureate. Her books include Room on the Broom, What the Ladybird Heard and the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over s...

other books by Julia Donaldson Rated 4 out of 5 by SaLe from Fun Fun book my kids love Date published: 2016-12-28 Rated 5 out of 5 by EMary from favourite our favourite bedtime story Date published: 2016-12-23 Rated 5 out of 5 by Donna from Great! Funny and clever! Engaging for children and adults alike, The Gruffalo is a great "underdog" story, about a mouse who outwits all of his predators. Date published: 2016-12-12 Rated 5 out of 5 by Fr3kles from Fantastic! My kids love this book! It's so cute. Would definitely recommend! Date published: 2016-12-10 Rated 3 out of 5 by Kitty from Great for your kid A nice little book for a little reader....... Goes well with their imagination. Date published: 2016-12-07 Rated 5 out of 5 by Teacher123 from My Favourite This is my favourite children's book, and I'm a teacher so I've read a lot.

The story is adorable and the rhyming pattern makes it great for a read aloud. Date published: 2016-12-02 Rated 5 out of 5 by Diha from Love Amazing book but not for baby first library #plumreview Date published: 2016-11-23 Rated 5 out of 5 by Coco89 from Great read! #plumrevuew Great read for kids...and adults! Gives kids a great imagination. They always want to read it before bed. Date published: 2016-11-15 Rated 5 out of 5 by Kiddie from Wonderful book! As a baby my son loved looking through this book. I would shorten it as it's a bit long per page. As a toddler he now loves reading it through completely. Date published: 2016-11-15 Rated 5 out of 5 by Diha from Love! But not for baby's first library as it takes too long per page.

Perhaps more for babies > 1 year Date published: 2016-11-15 Rated 5 out of 5 by Jenny from Must have for any child's library! This is such an awesome book. My son absolutely loves it, and it definitely is a must have! Make sure you get the Gruffalo's Child as well! Date published: 2016-11-12 Rated 5 out of 5 by Tundrakk from Excellent book for kids Beautifully written book, the rhyming make for a great read for little ones. The illustrations are colourful and very cute! A must have for any child's library Date published: 2016-11-12 Rated 5 out of 5 by Peter from Clever and Funny! My kids like how the clever mouse gets out of trouble. An absolute must have for any children's library. Date published: 2016-11-10 Rated 5 out of 5 by Kayla from Love! Great rhyming book that has a good lesson behind it! Preschoolers will love it!

Date published: 2016-09-20 Rated 5 out of 5 by Sarah_Johnston from What a wonderful book! My 3 year old son loves this book. It is the perfect length for a good bedtime story. We love it so much we have bought it as gifts for friends! Date published: 2009-06-04 Rated 5 out of 5 by Amber_Nicol from A must for your preschoolers bookshelf Both my son and I have loved this book! The pictures are gorgeous (they reminded me a lot of "Where the Wild Things are"), the story is so easy and fun to read, and it's full of birds and animals to mimic when you go through that phase where your kids love to tell you what noises any animal makes. The sequel is also fabulous. An excellent gift for any child. Date published: 2008-11-24 Rated 5 out of 5 by LLB from Parent entertainment This is one of the few books that I look forward to reading my kids at bedtime. And I don't mind reading it night after night. Sometimes my husband comes to listen to this entertaining story as well.

The sequel 'The Gruffalo's Child' is just as good. Both books are worth every penny. Date published: 2008-01-14 Rated 4 out of 5 by Sammi from Super Book This is a classic story about a mouse who walks into the woods and the animals he meets along the way. The story is very cute and has a rythym and rhyme pattern to it that kids just love - It has been read over repeatedly in my classroom. The Gruffalo is a must have for any teachers or family collection ! Date published: 2006-06-19 The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | wordery.com Would you like to add a title? Author Biography Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved children's books, and was the 2011-2013 Children's Laureate.

Her picture books include the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.Julia also writes fiction, including the PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE series illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs -- and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh. Axel Scheffler is a star illustrator in the world of children's books, and has created many bestsellers including the award-winning THE GRUFFALO and its irresistible sequel THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD. Born in Hamburg, Axel now lives in London. Top tips for reviewing Tell us why you liked or disliked the book; using examples and comparisons is a great way to do this. The ideal length is 100-200 words but you can write anything up to the 1,000 character limit. Suggest similar books that people might want to read if they enjoy the book you're reviewing. Give your honest opinion. We welcome criticism as long as it fits within our ' house rules '. We reserve the right to remove reviews that include distasteful, offensive or promotional content. To see our full list of house rules click here .

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*Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and Islands usually receive a 2-3 working day service for First Class. For Tracked Courier, it’s a 2 working day service and you need to order by 15:00. Unfortunately, we don't currently offer Express Delivery outside the UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey or Jersey. All deliveries are subject to cut-off times and public holidays. Welcome back , you are signed in Sign Out You are not currently signed in. Sign in Search Store Top 60 | Delightful Children's Books Delightful Children's Books About Top 60 Part of the impetus for this blog was the nagging thought that there are many amazing picture books in the world that I do not want to miss sharing with my children. This thought has reared its head again and spurred me to come up with the following list of 60 books that I absolutely do not want to miss sharing with my children. These 60 books are books that I hope my children will read repeatedly and remember fondly as part of their childhood. Why 60? I was aiming for my top 50 picture books, but 50 felt a little too restrictive and is not divisible by 12.

Why divisible by 12? While I could simply share my Top 60 list with you today, I thought it would be more helpful and exciting to reveal five not-to-be-missed picture books on the first of each of the 12 months of the year. Without further ado… 1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats . Ages 1+ A young boy named Peter explores and frolics in the snow. The Snowy Day features lovely illustrations, with lots of texture. 2. Crictor by Tomi Ungerer . Ages 3+ “Once upon a time in a little French town…” Madame Louise Bodot received a boa constrictor in the mail. She named the boa constrictor Crictor, and it became her pet. So begins Crictor, a delightfully apsurd exposition about what it might be like to have a boa constrictor as a pet. 3. Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan and Sophie Blackall . Ages 4+ A story of sibling rivalry that feels authentic, with a satisfying good ending. The big red lollipop on the front cover does not hurt this book’s chances of appealing to kids. 4.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig . Ages 4+ The heart-wrenching tale of a donkey who discovers a magic red pebble and unwittlingly turns into a rock. This miserable plot is tempered by William Steig’s wit and the perfect set-up for a well-delivered message about being thankful for what you have. 5. Art and Max by David Wiesner . Ages 4+ An energetic, imaginative tale that only David Wiesner has the artistic skills to pull off. I could have selected any one of Wiesner’s three Caldecott-award-winning picture books for this list — Flotsam, The Three Pigs, or Tuesday. All three are super innovative, artistic masterpieces. Art & Max is pure, unadulterated fun. 6. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr . Ages 1+ Todd Parr’s colorful, bold illustrations are great for babies and toddlers, while his humor and messages entertain older children. The Daddy Book, intentionally or not, also offers encouragement for parents. 7. Fredrick by Leo Lionni . Ages 3+ A story about a family of field mice preparing for winter that celebrates the value of art and poetry.

Leo Lionni is one of my favorite authors. His stories are always carefully crafted and give you something to think about. 8. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr . Ages 3+ A charming book about a young girl and her father who head out on a winter night in search of an owl. In lesser hands, this wisp of a storyline would fall flat. However, Yolen’s poetic prose and Schoenherr’s muted pen and watercolor illustrations are captivating. 9. Wolves by Emily Gravett . Ages 5+ Emily Gravett is awesome. She is funny. She is clever. She is an amazing artist. I think Wolves is Gravett’s best book thus far. A rabbit checks out a book at the library about wolves, begins reading, and the book comes to life. 10. Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson . Ages 7+ The true story of a man Henry “Box” Brown who, born a slave, had himself packed in a box and mailed North to freedom. The story of Brown’s life as a slave, brought to life by Kadir Nelson’s rich illustrations, is heartbreaking. 11.

Spring is Here by Taro Gomi . Ages 3+ I am a fan of Taro Gomi’s illustrations in general. Of Gomi’s books, Spring is Here stands out because it features a clever and beautifully executed concept. In addition, the evocative text describing the change of seasons is a joy to read aloud. 12. Elena’s Serenade by Campbell Geeslin and Ana Juan . Ages 3+ Ana Juan’s illustrations are captivating. In Elena’s Serenade, Juan’s illustrations transport readers on a magical journey where a girl can pass as a man, animals can be tamed by pipe music, and blown glass creations can take flight. 13. Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems . Ages 3+ Knuffle Bunny Too is the second is a series of three stories about a girl Trixie and her beloved Knuffle Bunny. While the stories of Trixie’s attachment to her stuffed animal are familiar, Willems’ tellings of them are not. Willems’ humor — aimed at parents as well as kids — is spot on. His illustrations — a mixture of black and white photographs and colorful cartoon drawings — are fresh and fun. 14.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet . Ages 4+ An innovative, interactive book that is sure to delight kids. Press Here is perfect for the four to seven-year-old set who are old enough to follow the directions in this book and young enough to have the capacity to suspend reality for a bit. 15. A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban . Ages 4+ A wonderful story written by a wonderful storyteller. A Birthday for Frances is chalk full of material to satisfy kids: a protagonist grappling with feelings of jealousy, mild misbehavior, amusing dialog, and descriptions of birthday party preparations. A Birthday for Frances not only withstands, but truly gets better, with repeat readings. 16. My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell . Ages 2+ As a young girl searches her backyard for her “spring robin,” she notices many signs of spring — a bee taking honey from a crocus, a yellow forsynthia bush, fuzzy fiddleheads sprouting, etc. This is a perfect story for toddlers, without a word out of place. 17. Creature by Andrew Zuckerman .

Ages 2+ An amazing alphabet book that stands out both due to Andrew Zuckerman’s phenomenal photographs and its engaging format. Many of the spreads in this alphabet book include a picture of an animal body part and the first letter of the animal’s name on one page and a picture of the entire animal on the following page. My kids love guessing which animal they will see next. 18. George and Martha by James Marshall . Ages 3+ A delightful collection of humorous stories about two best friends. These remarkably pithy stories make my kids and I laugh out loud and contain wonderfully accurate descriptions of imperfect interactions between two true friends. 19. Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco . Ages 4+ An engaging tale about an old woman who witnesses two miracles while decorating eggs for an Easter festival. As with other Patricia Polacco books, Rechenka’s Eggs features a unique, meaningful storyline and beautiful, energetic illustrations. 20. Can you whistle, Johanna? by Ulf Stark . Ages 5+ A charming and memorable story about a boy without a grandfather who adopts one from the old people’s home. 21. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson .

Ages 1+ A beautiful, simple story of a boy’s unwavering faith that the seed that he plants and cares for will grow into a carrot. 22. Vera’s Baby Sister by Vera Rosenberry . Ages 3+ Vera’s Baby Sister does a great job of accurately depicting the negative feelings that can accompany the birth of a younger sibling, has a heartwarming ending and stars a bean tent. If you enjoy this book, look for Vera Rides a Bike and other books featuring Vera. 23. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen . Ages 5+ I Want My Hat Back is a brilliantly crafted story that reminds me of the carefully worded and illustrated stories of Leo Lionni, without the deep messages. Instead, I Want My Hat Back delivers humor. 24. Mapping Penny’s World by Loreen Leedy . Ages 5+ Loreen Leedy has devoted her writing career to creating picture books that introduce kids to a range of challenging topics, from fractions to energy to maps. Leedy has written a handful of nonfiction picture books that are true gems. Mapping Penny’s World is one of those nonfiction picture book gems, clearly and engagingly introducing kids to maps. 25.

Zen Shorts by Jon Muth . Ages 5+ A giant panda named Stillwater befriends three children and shares three short stories with beautiful messages. 26. Slowly Slowly Slowly said the Sloth by Eric Carle . Ages 2+ The Very Hungry Caterpillar is better known. Do You Want to be My Friend? is more beloved by the author himself. But, Slowly Slowly Slowly said the Sloth is my favorite Eric Carle book. Carle’s illustrations of rainforest animals are beautiful. I like the rhythm of the book and enjoy reading it aloud. Most of all, I love the message about being true to yourself and about the value of moving slowly. 27. Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora . Ages 2+ A simple yet moving story about a young boy who longs to play the trumpet like the trumpeter he hears at the Zig Zag Jazz Club. The illustrations are remarkably varied and incorporate graphic patterns that give readers a sense of jazz music playing behind the text. 28. I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child . Ages 3+ Lauren Child has a distinctive voice and illustration style.

My children cannot get enough of her offbeat stories about brother and sister team, Charlie and Lola. 29. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson . Ages 5+ An extremely satisfying read. My kids and I both enjoy reading this humorous tale with instructions for turning a best enemy into a best friend. Enemy Pie is a fantastic book to read during the summer, full of mentions of baseball, tree forts, and other summery fun. 30. Fox by Margaret Wild . Ages 7+ A powerful picture book about friendship, jealousy, and betrayal. Fox reminds me that picture books are for adults as well as for children. 31. Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham . Ages 1+ A delightful story about an amiable man named Mr. Gumpy who agrees to take two children and a slew of animals on a boat ride. While the outcome of the boat trip is predictable, my 2-year-old son is superbly entertained each time we read about Mr. Gumpy’s boat tipping. John Burningham’s illustrations are rich, textured and beautiful. 32. Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney .

Ages 2+ A story about a boy Max who imitates the sounds he hears in his neighborhood by hitting a variety of objects with his two sticks. A lovely story about music found and made everywhere. Max Found Two Sticks is well paced and fun to read aloud. 33. Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer . Ages 4+ My view of this book is colored by the fact that it is my husband’s favorite book. My husband and children have a lot of fun laughing at Olivia’s efforts to imitate an entire marching band. This is one in a series of books about Olivia — a spunky character who Ian Falconer brings to life with his fantastic illustrations. 34. The Subway Mouse by Barbara Reid . Ages 5+ An adventure story about a subway mouse who sets off one day in search of a mysterious world that he has heard exists outside the subway system. While The Subway Mouse lacks a strong arch of a storyline, it draws readers into a convincingly rendered underground world. Barbara Reid’s illustrations made of plasticine and found objects are impressive. 35. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin .

Ages 6+ I laughed out loud reading Diary of the Worm for the first time…and the second…and the third. Diary of a Worm is a series of jokes told in the form of a diary written by a worm. This is a very fun book to read aloud to a group of 7 to 9-year-old kids. 36. Peek!: A Thai Hide-and-Seek by Minfong Ho and Holly Meade . Ages 2+ A father and daughter engage in a playful game of jut-ay (Thai hide-and-seek). This is one of my children’s favorite books; they enjoy searching for the daughter hidden on each page. Illustrator Holly Meade received a Caldecott Honor for Hush!: A Thai Lullaby, and Meade’s illustrations in Peek!: A Thai Hide-and-Seek are equally impressive — colorful and textured, with unusual perspectives. 37. The Curious Garden by Peter Brown . Ages 3+ A magical story about a young boy who discovers a patch of wildflowers growing on an abandoned railway. When the boy cares for the wildflowers, they begin to thrive and transform the city.

Peter Brown has imagined and created a extraordinary green city that my children are delighted to visit. 38. Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni . Ages 4+ A masterfully told story about identity and friendship. In Fish is Fish, a fish dreams of exploring the world outside the water like his good friend the tadpole turned frog. One day, with a great whack of his tail, the fish leaps out of the water only to find himself laying on the grass gasping for air. 39. Stella: Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay . Ages 4+ The story of a boy Sam’s first trip to the sea that features entertaining banter between Sam and his older sister Stella and beautiful illustrations. In Stella: Star of the Sea, Sam is full of questions about the sea, and Stella is full of delightfully absurd answers.Stella: Star of the Sea spawned a series of books about this unforgettable pair of siblings. 40. Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Cristina Bjork and Lena Anderson. Ages 6+ An enchanting story of a girl’s trip to Paris and to Monet’s garden in Giverny.

Linnea in Monet’s Garden does a wonderful job of introducing kids to impressionism and Monet as well as helping kids imagine what it would be like to travel to Paris. Linnea’s curiosity is contagious. 41. Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming . Ages 1+ A jaunty rhyming book that is very fun to read aloud to toddlers and also great for sharing with kids just learning to read. Barnyard Banter features richly colored and textured illustrations that Denise Fleming created by pouring colored paper pulp through hand-cut stencils. 42. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey . Ages 3+ This story is clearly set in a different era…an era when people dressed up to visit the Public Garden, police officers made phone calls from police booths, and it was natural for dad to go off on an adventure and leave mom to raise the kids. Yet, McCloskey’s phenomenal illustrations and his story of eight ducklings’ adventures as they walk through the streets of Boston still captivate kids. According to Anita Silvey , McCloskey bought ducks, raised them in his bathtub, and fed them red wine to slow them down so that he could practice drawing the Mallards.

43. The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons . Ages 4+ Gail Gibbons has churned out nonfiction books about nearly every topic a kid could want to read about. However, in The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree Gibbons does more than simply convey information. Instead, Gibbons created a portrait of a young boy’s attachment to his apple tree that charms. 44. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein . Ages 4+ A joyful adventure story about a French aerialist Philippe Petit who walked on a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. From the slough of concept books and predictable storybooks written for children, this suspenseful and unique story sticks out. 45. Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges and Sophie Blackall . Ages 4+ A moving true story about a girl Ruby who lived in Old China during a time when girls were expected to get married rather than attend university. Shirin Yim Bridges teamed up with one of my favorite illustrators, Sophie Blackall, and Blackall created beautiful illustrations for this book.

In a world of muted greens and yellows, young Ruby, always dressed in red, stands out. 46. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert . Ages 2+ A simple story about a child planting a maple tree that is a wonderful choice for celebrating fall leaves. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf features colorful and textured collages created with seeds, roots, fabric, ribbon, wire, paper, plastic, cardboard, watercolors, crayons, pencils, pens, and oil pastels. Lois Ehlert is one of the best author/illustrators creating books for the one to three-year-old set, and this is my favorite Lois Ehlert book. 47. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead and Erin Stead . Ages 3+ A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a very sweet book about a friendship between a zookeeper named Amos and the animals he cares for. When Amos gets sick, his friends elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhinocerous and owl come to his house to comfort and care for him. Erin Stead’s lovely, layered illustrations convincingly depict the friendship between Amos and the zoo animals.

The Steads have only begun, but thus far they seem to be at their best when they team up, as they did to create this gem of a book. 48. Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg . Ages 3+ A school story about a boy who mistakenly dresses up for crazy hair day on the wrong day. Crazy Hair Day includes a super-satisfying mix of humor (sure to generate roomfuls of giggles) and emotion (that kids can related to). The surprise ending will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Oft repeated line from this book: “Is that a hairdo or a hair don’t?” 49. Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams and Catherine Stock. Ages 4+ A story about a young Malawi boy who goes to great lengths to collect wire to make a galimoto, a toy vehicle. With industriousness and creativity, the young boy creates an impressive toy. 50. This is London by M. Sasek . Ages 5+ This is London is one in a series of fantastic picture books by M. Sasek that introduces readers to famous cities around the world. Sasek is a witty tourguide.

This is London begins with a spread that is entirely grey: “This is London,” reads the caption. “But don’t worry, it is hidden in fog like this only a few times a year in winter.” Although many facts are out-of-date, Sasek’s mid century modern illustrations of London scenes look fresh and new. 51. Snow by Uri Shulevitz . Ages 3+ This is the picture book that I pull out when the first snowflakes of the season fall. Uri Shulevitz does a wonderful job of capturing the magic of the first snowfall when you are a child. 52. Toot & Puddle: You Are My Sunshine by By Holly Hobbie. Ages 3+ One of a series of books about two adorable pigs, Toot (the adventurer) and Puddle (the homebody), who are best friends. In all Toot and Puddle books, the two friends are affectionate, picking out thoughtful gifts, writing postcards to eachother, and looking out for each other. In Toot and Puddle: You are my Sunshine, Puddle goes to great lengths to try to cheer up his friend Toot. 53.

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel . Ages 4+ A collection of five, often-humorous, short stories about two best friends Frog and Toad. Frog and Toad Together has well-developed characters; lovely, muted illustrations; and stories with creative, quirky plots. See also Frog and Toad Are Friends, Days with Frog and Toad, and Frog and Toad All Year. 54. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes . Ages 4+ In Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Lilly gets in trouble with her teacher for not listening, and Lilly’s very understanding teacher and parents teach her to take responsibility for her actions. Kevin Henkes is great at telling stories that are at once humorous and capture childhood emotions. 55. Are We There Yet? by Alison Lester . Ages 5+ I have always liked books that begin with maps, and Are We There Yet? begins with a map, a map depicting the route eight-year-old Grace’s family takes during their three-month family vacation around Australia. Are We There Yet? enables readers to imagine what it might really be like to take a road trip in Australia.

It begins with a fun description of the fold-out camper that Grace’s family travels in and then briefly and humorously describes each of Grace’s family’s adventures. 56. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. Ages 2+ A fun story told in rhyme about animals who seek cover from a storm in a bear’s den. The animals enjoy tea, popcorn, honey nuts and a warm fire, while the bear sleeps through the party. Few stories are more fun to read aloud. 57. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak . Ages 4+ A story about a boy Max who, when sent to his room, sails to the land of the wild things and leads a wild ruckus. When Max is ready to return home, he is wecomed back to the comfort of his bedroom where a warm supper is waiting for him. Childhood emotions are allowed to freely express themselves in the pages of Maurice Sendak’s book. Where the Wild Things Are feautures beautiful, textured illustrations and lyrical prose. 58. Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman . Ages 4+ Grace is a wonderful character — creative, adventurous and thoughtful.

In Boundless Grace, Grace is invited to visit her father, who she has not seen for years, in The Gambia. Boundless Grace is a compelling story about Grace trying to make sense of her family after meeting her father’s new wife and children. 59. The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers . Ages 5+ A story about a boy who devours books — no really devours books — until he begins to feel sick to his stomach. While the incredible book eating boy loves the knowledge he acquires by eating books, he knows that he must find a better way. The Incredible Book Eating Boy is a one-of-a-kind tale that celebrates reading. I am a big fan of Oliver Jeffers’ minimal designs, beautiful color pallets, tender characters and offbeat humor. 60. Grandpa’s Angel by Jutta Bauer . Ages 7+ A humorous and, to me, comforting tale about the narrator’s grandfather and an angel who looked after the grandfather throughout his life. While the words tell one story of disaster miraculously avoided and unexplained good luck, the illustrations tell another story of a hardworking and resourceful angel responsible for the grandfather’s good fortune.

10 More Books That You Definitely Should Not Miss These 10 books were recommended most frequently by my book-loving and discerning readers! Thank you to all of you who participated in our year-end poll. It was fun! The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.“Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake and a hungry gruffalo…” * Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson. “A charming, reassuring book for any child who has ever worried about Mummy leaving them alone.” The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. “Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week.” Beegu by Alexis Deacon. “This [is a] simple, bittersweet picture book that shows us our world through the three eyes of an innocent outsider with the help of stylish art and a wry, understated text.” Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

“On each page, we meet a new animal who nudges us onward to discover which creature will show up next: ‘Blue Horse, Blue Horse, What do you see? I see a green frog looking at me.’” A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton. “Uh-oh! Little Owl has fallen from his nest and landed with a whump on the ground. Now he is lost, and his mommy is nowhere to be seen!…A cast of adorable forest critters in neon-bright hues will engage little readers right up to the story’s comforting, gently wry conclusion.” Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. “Sam-I-Am mounts a determined campaign to convince another Seuss character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham.” Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. “Harry is a white dog with black spots who loves everything . . . except baths. So one day before bath time, Harry runs away…” Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr. “Mog always seems to be in trouble because she is such a very forgetful cat.

But one night, when an uninvited visitor turns up at the house, Mog’s forgetfulness comes in very handy!” The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. “One tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail who saves the day.” * The book descriptions for these last 10 books come from Goodreads. Click on the bookcover images to read more about these books on Goodreads. Share this: Summer Reading | Anderson's Bookshop Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Puffin Books - March 2nd, 2006 GRADES K-2 A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents . . . the gruffalo!

As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo. . . . Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days Published: Candlewick Press (MA) - August 2002 GRADES K-2 WESLANDIA honors the misfits—and the creators—among us. Enter the witty, intriguing world of Weslandia! Now that school is over, Wesley needs a summer project. He’s learned that each civilization needs a staple food crop, so he decides to sow a garden and start his own - civilization, that is. He turns over a plot of earth, and plants begin to grow. They soon tower above him and bear a curious-looking fruit. As Wesley experiments, he finds that the plant will provide food, clothing, shelter, and even recreation. It isn’t long before his neighbors and classmates develop more than an idle curiosity about Wesley - and exactly how he is spending his summer vacation.

Published: Candlewick - April 11th, 2006 GRADES 3-4 Shrink, shrank, shrunk! Every morning, Judy Moody measures Stink, and it's always the same: three feet, eight inches tall. Then, one day, the ruler reads - can it be? - three feet, seven and three quarters inches! Is Stink shrinking? In Stink's first solo adventure, his style comes through loud and strong - enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the book. These very funny, homespun sagas reflect the familiar voice of a kid who pictures himself with super powers to deal with the travails of everyday life - including the occasional teasing of a bossy big sister! Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - October 3rd, 2011 GRADES 5-6 In the town of Spring Haven, four children have been selected to compete in the national candymaking contest of a lifetime. Who will make a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Yellow Lightning Chew?

Logan, the candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by feel alone? Miles, the boy allergic to rowboats and the color pink? Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy as if it were a feather? Philip, the suit-and-tie-wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook? This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations. Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days Published: Scholastic Paperbacks - February 2011 GRADES 5-6 Dive deep into the vivid underwater world of Dark Life! The oceans rose, swallowing the lowlands. Earthquakes shattered the continents, toppling entire regions into the rising water. Now, humans live packed into stack cities. The only ones with any space of their own are those who live on the ocean floor: the Dark Life. Ty has spent his whole life living deep undersea. When outlaws attack his homestead, he finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known.

Joined by Gemma, a girl from Topside, Ty ventures into the frontier's rough underworld and discovers some dark secrets to Dark Life. Secrets that threaten to destroy everything. Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Graphix - February 2010 GRADES 5-6 From the artist of BSC Graphix comes this humorous coming-of-age true story about the dental drama that ensues after a trip-and-fall mishap. Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days Published: Yearling Books - August 9th, 2011 GRADES 5-6 Eleven-year-old David Greenberg dreams of becoming a TV superstar like his idol, Jon Stewart.

But in real life, David is just another kid terrified of starting his first year at Harman Middle School. With a wacky sense of humor and hilarious Top 6½ Lists, David spends his free time making TalkTime videos, which he posts on YouTube. But when David and his best friend have a fight, David is lucky enough to make a pretty cool new friend, Sophie—who just (gulp) happens to be a girl. Sophie thinks David's videos are hilarious, and she starts sending out the links to everyone she knows. Sophie's friends tell their friends, and before David knows it, thousands of people are viewing his videos—including some of the last people he would have expected. Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days Published: Hyperion Books - May 2009 GRADES 5-6 It all starts with a school essay. When twelve-year-old Gratuity (“Tip”) Tucci is assigned to write five pages on “The True Meaning of Smekday” for the National Time Capsule contest, she’s not sure where to begin. When her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck?

Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge, bizarre spaceships descended on the Earth and the aliens – called Boov – abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it “Smekland” (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod? Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days Published: Henry Holt & Company - April 29th, 2008 GRADES 7-8 Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers? This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. Published: Katherine Tegen Books - February 28th, 2012 GRADES 7-8 In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Simon Pulse - August 10th, 2010 GRADES 7-8 It is the cusp of World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry.

Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure….One that will change both their lives forever. Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Hmh Books for Young Readers - May 2008 GRADES 7-8 I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald’s still would be open. High school sophomore Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, like “one marble hits another.” The result is catastrophic. How can her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis are wiping out the coasts, earthquakes are rocking the continents, and volcanic ash is blocking out the sun?

As August turns dark and wintery in northeastern Pennsylvania, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. Told in a year’s worth of journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all—hope—in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. An extraordinary series debut! Find more information at , and don’t miss the exciting sequels The Dead and the Gone and The World We Live In. Gruffalo voted nation's favourite bedtime story | Daily Mail Online comments It features a monster with a black tongue, orange eyes and a poisonous wart on the end of his nose. But despite sounding like just the thing to give youngsters nightmares, children's book The Gruffalo has been voted the nation's favourite bedtime story. Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, it has sold more than 10million copies worldwide since it was published a decade ago.

Modern classic: The adventures of a mouse who comes across a wood-dwelling monster struck a chord with the nation's children The tale of a mouse who outsmarts a wood-dwelling monster drew a fifth of the votes in a poll of 20,000 Radio 2 listeners. Second was Winnie The Pooh and third The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Jeremy Vine, who hosted the poll on his lunchtime show, said: 'I am going to come clean - it's my favourite too. 'Julia Donaldson is the Shakespeare of children's writers, and the funny thing about her is that, because The Gruffalo only came out ten years ago, there are many, many people who haven't even clocked that Britain has this genius in its midst. 'It's not just The Gruffalo - it's everything she has written.' Others on the shortlist included Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, and Where The Wild Things Are. Excerpt from The Gruffalo A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. 'Where are you going to, little brown mouse?

'Come and have tea in my underground house.' 'It’s terribly kind of you, Fox, but no – 'I’m going to have lunch with the Gruffalo.'” The Gruffalo has also been adapted for television by BBC1 - with Robbie Coltrane in the title role - and will be screened at Christmas. The cast also features Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson. The book has won several prizes for children's literature, and has been made into a West End and Broadway play. It is intended for readers aged from three to seven, and is written in rhyming couplets with the catchphrase: 'A gruffalo? What's a gruffalo?' 'A gruffalo! Why, didn't you know?' Vine added: 'For an adult, it takes 90 seconds to read. For a child, it's a beautiful, funny, suspenseful tale of a clever mouse and a rather lovely but just-a-bit-scary monster - with a twist Agatha Christie would have been proud of.' Vine discussed the eight shortlisted stories - whittled down from a longlist of 36 - with former children's laureate Michael Rosen throughout the week.

The Gruffalo [Board book], Julia Donaldson Axel Scheffler (Illustrated ) - Shop Online for Books in Australia Register or sign-in to rate and get recommendations. Format: Board Book, 26 pages, Reprints EditionOther Information: 26 colour illustrationsPublished In: United Kingdom, 04 September 2009 Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake and a hungry gruffalo ...This sturdy board book edition of the bestselling modern classic is perfect for even the youngest child. About the Author Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved children's books, and was the 2011-2013 Children's Laureate. Her picture books include the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.Julia also writes fiction, including the PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE series illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs -- and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

Axel Scheffler is a star illustrator in the world of children's books, and has created many bestsellers including the award-winning THE GRUFFALO and its irresistible sequel THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD. Born in Hamburg, Axel now lives in London. Promotional Information A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. Reviews PreS-Gr 3-To save himself from being eaten by a fox, an owl, and a snake, an enterprising mouse declares that he is having lunch with a monster whose favorite food just happens to be the animal who is at that moment threatening him. With each telling, the gruffalo becomes more menacing until all of the rodent's tormentors leave him unharmed. The mouse scoffs at them, for everyone knows "There's no such thing as a gruffal...." But a turn of the page reveals-you guessed it-a gruffalo, that thinks the mouse will "...taste good on a slice of bread." Undaunted, the rodent devises a plan to frighten the monster off.

Young readers will love the humor in this preposterous story of a trick that backfires and the way the protagonist talks himself out of his difficulties. Best of all, they will relish being in on the joke as they join in the reading of the delightfully repetitious rhyming text. Scheffler's cartoonlike illustrations, rendered in watercolor, colored pencils, and ink, are large and well paced. Facial expressions contrast the animals' alarm with the jaunty nonchalance of the mouse. The double-page spread that reveals the gruffalo-terrible claws, black tongue, poisonous wart, purple prickles, and all-is just scary enough to tickle but not frighten youngsters. Serve this one for a rollicking good time.-Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community-Technical College, CT Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information. A clever, exuberant story in rhyme with strong, color-saturated pictures to match . . . This is a sure bet. (Booklist) The eponymous character introduced by this British team owes a large debt to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.

When Mouse meets Fox in the "deep dark wood," he invents a story about the gruffalo, described very much like Sendak's fearsome quartet of wild thingsÄ"He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." The gullible fox runs away when Mouse tells him that the gruffalo's favorite food is roasted fox. "Silly old Fox!" says Mouse, "Doesn't he know?/ There's no such thing as a gruffalo!" Owl and Snake follow suit until, with a turn of the page, Mouse runs into the creature he has imagined. Quick-thinking Mouse then tells the monster, "I'm the scariest creature in this deep dark wood./ Just walk behind me and soon you'll see,/ Everyone for miles is afraid of me." Fox, Owl and Snake appear to be terrified of the tiny mouse, but readers can plainly see the real object of their fears. By story's end, the gruffalo flees, and Mouse enjoys his nut lunch in peace. Despite the derivative plot line, debut author Donaldson manipulates the repetitive language and rhymes to good advantage, supplying her story with plenty of scary-but-not-too-scary moments.

Scheffler's gruffalo may seem a goofy hybrid of Max's wild things, but his cartoonlike illustrations build suspense via spot-art previews of the monster's orange eyes, black tongue and purple prickles until the monster's appearance in full. Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information. EAN:

Question: Which prize-winning series of books by Julia Donaldson tell the story of a mouse taking a walk in a dark wood?
Answer: The Gruffalo